Apparatus for drying matrices.



H. A. W. WOOD.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING MATRICES. 1

- APPLICATION FILED JAN.3,1911.

1,121,265. Patented Dec. 15, 1914.

will! E v y 5%1vy1 ED STAWENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE' ASSIGNMENTS, TO

WOOD NEWSPAPER MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR DRYIN MATRICES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedDec.15,191d.

Original application fl1ed February 5, 1906, Serial No. 299,439. Divided and this application filed January 3, 1911. Serial No. 600,395.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY A. Wrsn WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have'invented a new and useful Apparatus for Drying Matrices, of which the following is a' specification.

This is a division of my application for patent on method of drying matrices filed Feb. 5, 1906, Serial No; 299,439. I

The ordinary stereotype matrix is made by pressing a moist fiong upon a form of type, and drying the matrix in contact with the type so that a hard, baked, reverse im; pression thereof is obtained. This drying of the matrix in contact with the type takes a considerable period of time, sometime; five or six minutes in newspaper practice. The time thus consumed is of the utmost importance in newspaper work.

I have found that the drying of the matrix can be materially accelerated by holding the moist matrix in contact with the type by means of an absorbent material pressed against the matrix and by vwit hdrawing or exhausting the air from around the matrix, type, and absorbent material.

The: invention .consists of an improved form of apparatus for practislng the method here described.

The apparatus and modifications thereof are illustrated in the accompanying drawing; referring towhich,

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of enough of a matrix drying apparatus to illustrate how the same may be constructed to embody my invention; Fig. 2 is an eleva tion partly in section of a modification; and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred form of chase.

Referring to the drawing and in detail, A designates the steam-table of an ordinary matrix drying press. This steam-table is usuall made hollow and is sometimes arrange on top of a connected boiler, or it may have steam otherwise supplied to its intenor so as to present a hot upper surface to the form which lies upon it. An inclo'sing vacuum chamber B is arranged on top of said table and secured thereto by a tight joint. Extending above said vacuum chamher is a yoke in which is formed or secured a pressure cylinder C. Fitting in the cylinder C is a piston 10 which has a piston-rod 11 which extends down through a stuffing-box 12 formed in the top of the chamber B. The chamber may be formed with an air-tight door D. r YVorking in the chamber is a platen E WhlCll cooperat s with the table A. The face or bearingi surface of the platen E is rovided with small holes or perforations 6. he platen is secured on the end of the piston-rod 11. The piston-rod 11 is provided with an abutment 13 at its end which works in a small cylinder 14, a spring 15 being arranged under the abutment normally to raise the platen E. A steam or pressure pipe 16 connects with the cylinder C, and by admit ting pressure into said cylinder C the platen is forced down toward the table A. When the pressure is relieved the platen is lifted by the spring 15 from the table A. This means is shown for operating the platen, although, so far as the scope of my invention is concerned, any suitable means may be used for operating the platen.

A pipe 17 is connected to the chamber B driven by an electric motor H.

The chase which is usually employed is preferably perforated along its sides and ends as shown in Fig. 3. The side stick 30 and the foot stick 31 used in the chase are Z lso preferably perforated, as indicatedin To make and dry a matrix the fiong is laid upon the form of type and rolled into it. The chase containing the form with the matrix upon it is placed on the table A and in the chamber B by sliding the same in through. the door D. Uponthe moist matrix is then placed one or more layers of dry blankets. The door D is then closed, and the platen brought down on top of the matrix, holding the same in close contact with the type. As this operation takes place, the pump is driven to withdraw the air fromthe chamber B, and the moisture exuding or driven off from the matrix and blankets by the heat is rapidly vaporized and carried away, and the matrix will be dried in much quicker time than by the old method of drying under atmospheric pressure.

In Fig. 2 a modification is shown which is that the form of type may be slid in under tact with the table, and will close it, the I the same with the matrix and blankets applied. When in position the platen E is forced down. This will bring .the chamber in concontinued downward movement of the platen bringing the same into contact with the blankets, and the spring 20 holding the chamber 'in contact with the table. When the chamber is closed the air is exhausted and the previously described operation of drying is carried out.

Other forms of apparatus may be worked out for practising my invention without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is I 1. A matrix drying press comprising a heating table, a platen above the table, a chamber resting on the table and inclosing the platen but spaced therefrom all around its edges, means for exhausting the air in witnesses.

the chamber around the platen, and means extending into the chamber for moving the platen therein.

2. A matrix drying press comprising a heating table, a platen for pressing a matrix against the table, a chamber contacting with the table at its edges and inclosing'the platen but spaced therefrom all around the.

edges of the platen, means for exhausting the air from the chamber around the platen,

said platen being perforated to permit the exhausting means to take the air, from the matrix, and means extending into the chamber for reciprocating the platen therein.

3. A matrix drying press comprising a platen and table, a rod for operating the platen, a chamber mounted on said rod, a spring for depressing said chamber, and means for exhausting said chamber.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand, in the presence of two subscribing ii HENRY A. wisn woon. Witnesses:

BEL M. GLAssEY, BLonwm W. JONES.

-- a. A matrix drying press comprising a 

